The Press., 1887-01-20
Latfar from E1lnrisa.

AsLaDula, c18ss Jans 4OCns
 It may be agreeable to your readers to hear something of this distant point of civilization.
 Having passed the entire summer amid these lofty and breezy hills, am prepared to exclaim-in the words of a cracker-"It belongs to Florida to have pleasant sum- mers, as any one thought knowed." At no time was the sun progressively warm, for every day, from the first of June to Sep tember, there were showers of rain to cool the atmosphere, and to be without 8 breeze was rare occurrence. Nights are magnificent for sleeping. Only two nights during the summer was the air too warm for a@quilt. The mosquitoes are bad sometimes, but gauge, wire blinds and nettings are very effectual remedies. The great pest of the summer is felt when sWarms of gnats come to bask in the warm sunshine, making objective points of eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and sticking in persist ent affection to the skin wherever ex- posed. For these torments there is no remedy equal to a large palmetto fan and lazy hour in which to sit and fight them. | We have had one freeze this winter, but not enough to do any damage to fruit trees. The effect of the great freeze of last year is now scarcely perceptible. The orange groves about this place are loaded with oranges, and though orange ship ping has been going on so long, the bright, yellow fruit can hardly be missed from oil the trees. There are some beautiful young groves just coming into bearing, and many of different ages looking well, and promise fair revenue in the near flu ture.
 There are many engaged in raising veg. etables, and, though misfortune attended last years crop, the same farmers are at Ii again, with high hopes of success.
 There are a few families spending the winter here, and coming from the colder north are delighted with this climate. Bu there are not so many as usual for tho season, and I expect these people are be ginning to realize that the day of heecine strangers is about over. They are awak ing to the fact that even Florida mus give somewhere near the moneys worth.
 This little town, situated upon a ridg' of pine hills, has commanding view O Lake Harris and the luxuriant grove which line the banks on every side. Th' various settlements on the opposite shor' form picturesque view for the lover o natural scenery. To the rear of Astatul, the railroad, now hastening to completion runs along and through a succession o hills and vales till it dashes away througl the Apopka mountains. s-
 This is a beautiful locality for a town and many who have traversed the state north, south, east and west, say this is thu prettiest town site they have seen in th' state. Unfortunately, there is no one tc boom Astabula, and while other places O few, and those imaginary, attractions ar advertised in language as high-fown a' exaggerated, this-our town-sleeps among the hills, found and admired by the few and is unheralded by song, story or "Flor ida lies" .-, -.- .. While other places during the past sum mer were ravaged by malaria, this was al most free from it, and had but one seriou case the entire summer and fall
 There is now boat once day and train twice day. Who knows but wha the echo of the steam whistle among thes pine hills will rouse Astabula that she b no longer the Rip Van Wrinkle of Sumte county. Respectfully, FLORIDA.